Living Memories was a pioneering outreach project created by the London Mozart Players, for the London Borough of Croydon. This project gave dementia sufferers the opportunity to interact with musicians and professional dancers.
Living Memories was devised by Julia Desbruslais, the Community and Education Director for the London Mozart Players. Alongside two musicians from the orchestra and a team of professional dancers led by Lauren Potter, this project brought the joy of music to residents in six homes across the Borough of Croydon that specialise in the care of elderly people with dementia.

This project reached out into the very heart of the community, taking music to people who could no longer visit the concert hall, to stimulate, entertain and inspire creativity in participants, regardless of their disability.

The LMP’s continued, vital role of cultural engagement and participation throughout the Borough is seen through the work of this project, helping to enhance the quality of life for those who can no longer access regular opportunities for music-making or dancing.

This project aimed to stimulate memories of times and ideas that were perhaps lost through concerts of popular and familiar classical music and a sing-a-long to ‘old time’ songs. The project also aimed to energize and engage the residents, and to help everyday tasks such as eating lunch to become a more peaceful time for the residents.